Folded compact image capture apparatus

ABSTRACT

A digital still camera includes a main body; a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel coupled rotatably to an end portion of the main body of the camera in such a manner that a display portion thereof faces said main body; and a lens housing inserted rotatably and independently into a space formed in a portion where the main body and the LCD panel are coupled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 72461/1997, filed Dec. 23, 1998, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a digital still camera and, more particularly, to a digital still camera in which a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is rotatably coupled to an end portion of the body of the camera and a lens housing is inserted to be independently rotatable, into a space between the body of the camera and the LCD panel.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] A conventional digital still camera is structured in that an LCD panel is mounted rotatably to the main body of the camera so as to allow a display portion thereof to be opened, and a lens housing is fixed to the main body of the camera. Alternatively, the lens housing is mounted rotatably to the main body of the camera while the LCD panel is fixed to an end portion of the camera.

[0006] In the former case, since the lens housing is fixed to the main body of the camera, users are required to move the main body of the camera when they wish to take pictures. However, in the latter case, since the display portion of the LCD panel is outwardly exposed, it can be easily damaged by an impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a digital still camera which is reduced in size and is able to provide a convenient use.

[0008] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0009] To achieve the above and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a digital still camera including: a main body; a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel coupled rotatably to an end portion of the main body of the camera in such a manner that a display portion of the LCD panel faces the main body of the camera at a folded position of the LCD panel; and a lens housing inserted into a space formed in a portion where the main body of the camera and the LCD panel are coupled, which is rotatable independently of the main body of the camera and the LCD panel.

[0010] In addition, a first semicircular groove formed in an end portion of the body of the camera, and a second semicircular groove formed in the corresponding end portion of the LCD panel face each other, to thereby form a space into which the lens housing is inserted.

[0011] A coupling pin which connects the main body of the camera and the LCD panel to be rotatable is partially exposed to the space into which the lens housing is inserted, and preferably, the lens housing is screw-coupled to an end portion of the coupling pin.

[0012] Further, another end portion of the coupling pin is coupled to an operation lever for independently rotating the lens housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a section view showing a coupled state of a coupling pin of the digital still camera shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a coupling between the coupling pin and a lens housing of the digital still camera shown in FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the LCD panel which is nearly folded toward the main body of the digital still camera shown in FIG. 1; and

[0018]FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a lens which is taking an object existing in front of the main body of the digital still camera shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, this embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those having skill in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital still camera includes a main body 1 on which various operation keys 1 a are arranged, a lens housing 3 having a taking lens 3 a, and an LCD panel 2 having an LCD display 2 a for displaying the image taken from the taking lens 3 a.

[0021] The main body 1 and the LCD panel 2 are coupled by a coupling pin 4 which is inserted rotatably into coupling pin insertion portions 11 formed respectively in the end portions of the main body 1 and the LCD panel 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the LCD panel 2 is allowed to be folded to the main body 1. Preferably, the display 2 a is installed at the surface of the LCD panel 2 which contacts the main body 1 so as to be hidden when the LCD panel 2 is folded to the main body 1 (in a folded position).

[0022] A space portion 5 in which the lens housing 3 is rotatably disposed is arranged between the main body 1 and the LCD panel 2. The space portion 5 is formed by semicircular grooves 5 a, 5 b respectively formed in the end portions of the LCD panel 2 and the main body 1 of the digital still camera.

[0023] The coupling pin 4 is partially exposed in the space portion 5 and the lens housing 3 disposed in the space portion 5 is fixed to the coupling pin 4.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, a screw portion 4 a is provided on an outer periphery of the coupling pin 4 which is exposed toward the space portion 5, and the screw portion 4 a screws into the lens housing 3. In addition, an end portion of the coupling pin 4 opposite to that having the screw portion 4 a is provided with an operation lever 6 for rotating the lens housing 3 within the space portion 5.

[0025] Another coupling pin 13 is rotatable within coupling pin insertion portions 14 formed respectively in the end portions of the main body 1 and the LCD panel 2, at a side of the lens housing 3 opposite to that of the coupling pin 4.

[0026] The structure of the digital still camera according to the embodiment of the present invention operates as follows.

[0027] First, to use the digital still camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, a user moves by one hand the LCD panel 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 4A centering on the coupling pin 4, after taking the main body 1 of the camera by the other hand, in a state (the folded position, which is not shown) where the LCD panel 2 is completely folded to the main body 1 of the camera. When the LCD panel 2 is in the folded position, the lens housing 3 is limited in rotation by the positioning of the semicircular grooves 5 a, 5 b.

[0028] The user then continues to rotate the LCD panel 2 using the one hand so as to obtain an obtuse angle between the main body 1 of the camera and the LCD panel 2, as shown in FIG. 1. In such a state, the user rotates the operation lever 6 as shown in FIG. 4B so as to adjust the direction in which an object is taken. As a result of the rotation of the operation lever 6, the coupling pin 4 rotates in the coupling pin insertion portion 11 and the lens housing 3 rotates in the space portion 5 at the same time. Then, the object which exists in front of the taking lens 3 a of the digital still camera is taken by the taking lens 3 a of the lens housing 3.

[0029] If the object exists in the rear of the taking lens 3 a of the digital still camera, for example, if the user wishes to take his/her own picture, the user rotates the lens housing 3 so as to change the direction in which an object is taken by the lens 3 a.

[0030] According to the present invention, the LCD display is not outwardly exposed during the state (folded position) where the LCD panel is folded to the main body of the digital still camera. Therefore, the LCD display is not damaged by an external impact. The user operates the operation lever in the state where the LCD panel is unfolded from the main body of the camera, so as to rotate the lens housing and adjust the direction in which the object is taken. Thus, a digital still camera that has various conveniences is obtained.

[0031] Further, the LCD panel can be completely folded to the main body of the camera, which presents excellent appearance and a reduced size of the camera.

[0032] This invention has been described above with reference to the aforementioned embodiments. It is evident, however, that many alternative modifications and variations will be apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the present invention embraces all such alternative modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0033] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A digital still camera comprising: a main body having an end portion; a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel having a display portion and coupled rotatably to the end portion of said main body so that said display portion faces said main body in a folded position; and a lens housing inserted into a space formed in a portion where said main body and said LCD panel are coupled, which is rotatable independently of said main body and said LCD panel.
 2. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said space is formed by first and second semicircular grooves which are formed respectively in the end portion of said main body and an end portion of said LCD panel and face each other.
 3. The digital still camera according to claim 2, further comprising a coupling pin to rotatably connect said main body and said LCD panel and having a first end portion partially exposed to said space.
 4. The digital still camera according to claim 3, wherein said lens housing is screw-coupled to the first end portion of said coupling pin in said space.
 5. The digital still camera according to claim 4, further comprising an operation lever to independently rotate said lens housing and coupled to a second end portion of said coupling pin opposite the first end portion.
 6. The digital still camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling pin; wherein the end portion of said main body has a first coupling pin insertion portion formed thereat, said LCD panel has an end portion at which a second coupling pin insertion portion is formed; and wherein said coupling pin is rotatably inserted within first and second coupling pin insertion portions, to rotatably connect said main body and said LCD panel.
 7. The digital still camera according to claim 2, further comprising: a coupling pin; wherein the end portion of said main body has a first coupling pin insertion portion formed thereat, the end portion of said LCD panel has a second coupling pin insertion portion formed thereat; and wherein said coupling pin is rotatably inserted within first and second coupling pin insertion portions, to rotatably connect said main body and said LCD panel.
 8. The digital still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a taking lens housed by said lens housing lens, to take in a first object positioned in a front region of said main body and a second object positioned in a back region of said main body in accordance with the rotation of said lens housing.
 9. The digital still camera according to claim 2, further comprising a taking lens housed by said lens housing lens, to take in a first object positioned in a front region of said main body and a second object positioned in a back region of said main body in accordance with the rotation of said lens housing.
 10. The digital still camera according to claim 5, further comprising a taking lens housed by said lens housing lens, to take in a first object positioned in a front region of said main body and a second object positioned in a back region of said main body in accordance with the rotations of said operation lever and said lens housing.
 11. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said lens housing is rotatable so that a front surface thereof contacts a front surface of said main body when in the set position.
 12. The digital still camera according to claim 11, wherein in the set position, a surface of said lens housing forms a portion of a surface substantially perpendicular to back surfaces of said main body and said lens holder.
 13. The digital still camera according to claim 12, further comprising: a taking lens housed in said lens housing, and having an optical axis, to take in an object; and wherein said display portion displays an image of the taken object, said optical axis being parallel to a surface of said display portion when said LCD panel is in the set position.
 14. The digital still camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a taking lens housed in said lens housing, and having an optical axis, to take in an object; and wherein said display portion displays an image of the taken object, said optical axis being parallel to a surface of said display portion when said LCD panel is in the set position.
 15. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said space is formed by a first recess formed in the end portion of said main body and a second recess formed in an end portion of said main body, said first and second recesses being conjoined.
 16. The digital still camera according to claim 2, wherein said lens housing is circular and has a first diameter less than a second diameter of said space.
 17. The digital still camera according to claim 7, further comprising: another coupling pin formed in a same axis as the coupling pin; wherein the end portion of said main body has a third coupling pin insertion portion formed thereat at a side of said lens housing opposite that of said first coupling pin insertion portion, the end portion of said LCD panel has a fourth coupling pin insertion portion formed thereat at the side of said lens housing opposite that of said second coupling pin insertion portion; and wherein said another coupling pin is rotatably inserted within third and fourth coupling pin insertion portions, to rotatably connect said main body and said LCD panel in accordance with the rotation of said lens housing.
 18. A digital still camera comprising: a main body having an end portion; a display panel having a display portion and coupled rotatably to the end portion of said main body about an axis of rotation; and a lens housing having a taking lens to take an object, said lens housing with said taking lens being rotatable relative to said main body and said display panel about the axis of rotation.
 19. The digital still camera according to claim 18, wherein said display panel is rotatable relative to said main body to a first position in which said display portion is covered by a top surface of said main body.
 20. The digital still camera according to claim 18, wherein: the end portion of said main body has a first recess; and said display panel has an end portion having a second recess; wherein said first and second recess are conjoined to form a space, and said lens housing is positioned within said space.
 21. The digital still camera according to claim 19, wherein: the end portion of said main body has a first recess; and said display panel has an end portion having a second recess; wherein said first and second recess are conjoined to form a space, and said lens housing is positioned within said space.
 22. The digital still camera according to claim in claim 21, wherein said lens housing is rotatable within said space when said display panel is at a second position rotated away from the first position, and said lens housing is limited in rotation when said display panel is at the first position.
 23. The digital still camera according to claim 22, wherein said space is circular when said display panel is at the second position and semicircular when said display panel is at the first position.
 24. The digital still camera according to claim 19, wherein the end portion of said main body and an end portion of said display panel each have circular coupling pin insertion grooves concentric about the axis of rotation, the digital still camera further comprises a coupling pin with a protrusion, said coupling pin fixed to said lens housing and extending along the axis of rotation and through the circular coupling pin insertion grooves of said main body and said display panel, to enable said display panel to rotate relative to said main body, and said protrusion being rotatable to rotate said coupling pin and said lens housing relative to said main body and said display panel.
 25. A digital still camera comprising: a main body having operating keys and an end portion with a first recess; a display panel having a display portion and end portion with a second recess conjoined with said first recess to form a space, and coupled rotatably to the end portion of said main body about an axis of rotation between a first position at which said display portion is protected by said main body and a second position rotated away from the first position; and a lens housing having a taking lens to take an object, said lens housing with said taking lens formed within said space and being rotatable relative to said main body and said display panel about the axis of rotation and within said space while said display panel is at the second position. 